Worth it to make the trip from East Coast?

[quandrea]

I have been to WDW nearly 20 times. We are DVC owners. I'm wondering if it is worth taking a trip to the Villas at the Grand Californian? If so how many days do we go. We usually head to WDW for nine nights or so, but I assume DL doesn't need as long. Do I take the long flight from Onatrio, Canada or just stick with WDW. I just finished Birnbaum's Guide to DL and my interest is piqued.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

We have debated the same thing. We too are DVC members and have been to DW more times than we can count. We took my son about 10 years ago (he's now 13) and have decided we may go, but only plan on spending a couple of days. It would be nice to get a different Disney perspective for a change

 

[HydroGuy]

I have been to WDW nearly 20 times. We are DVC owners. I'm wondering if it is worth taking a trip to the Villas at the Grand Californian? If so how many days do we go. We usually head to WDW for nine nights or so, but I assume DL doesn't need as long. Do I take the long flight from Onatrio, Canada or just stick with WDW. I just finished Birnbaum's Guide to DL and my interest is piqued.

Whether it is worth it depends on what you are looking for. DLR is not a vacation resort in the same way WDW is. However it is full of Disney magic and offers many things you will not find in Florida. The DL park is also of course the only park built personally by Walt Disney. Many would argue that it shows.

For DLR itself I would recommend four days minimum. Also, they are doing lots of work at the DCA park and a trip after June 2012 would be ideal.

This thread has helped many people like you better understand how to approach DLR: "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Good luck!

 

[DisneyOHFan]

For DLR itself I would recommend four days minimum. Also, they are doing lots of work at the DCA park and a trip after June 2012 would be ideal.

This thread is how helped many people like you better understand how to approach DLR: "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Good luck!

That is great to know. Thank you.

 

[ducky_love]

Short answer: YEP!

We know WDW inside out but we still go to DL. It is a totally different feeling. You can actually walk up to table service restuarants and eat without booking 6 months out, you can park hop in 10 minutes or less, the characters roam free without being bothered (Peter Pan and Hook were having an epic sword fight across FantasyLand last time we were there), and so much more!

Not to mention Indiania Jones, Roger Rabbit, Mr. Toad, and Alice all have rides. There are many things that we don't have on the East Coast.

We have always gone for 4 days but this time we are going for a full 6 so we can really see EVERYTHING. It is totally worth the trip!

 

[quandrea]

Short answer: YEP!

We know WDW inside out but we still go to DL. It is a totally different feeling. You can actually walk up to table service restuarants and eat without booking 6 months out, you can park hop in 10 minutes or less, the characters roam free without being bothered (Peter Pan and Hook were having an epic sword fight across FantasyLand last time we were there), and so much more!

Not to mention Indiania Jones, Roger Rabbit, Mr. Toad, and Alice all have rides. There are many things that we don't have on the East Coast.

We have always gone for 4 days but this time we are going for a full 6 so we can really see EVERYTHING. It is totally worth the trip!

This is what I noticed reading the guidebook. DL is certainly not a copy of WDW. I've also read that seeing the park Walt built is an experience of a lifetime. It helps to know that putting the visit off until late 2012/2013 would be good. Thanks.

 

[enchantedny]

YES - very much worth the trip!

I am a WDW vet who just returned from her first trip to DLR. We had a great time. My favorite part was being able to walk easily from our hotel (PPH) and park hop in minutes. We walked through the Grand Californian every day and it is beautiful. I used to think Fantasyland in MK was special but it does not compare to the one in DL. We had 4 day park hoppers and seemed to have enough time to see everything with big afternoon breaks. We spent 4 days before in the San Diego area and a day after taking our daughter to see the Hollywood sign. I want to go back in 2013 to see Carsland.

 

[HydroGuy]

DL is certainly not a copy of WDW.

We regularly have to point out that DL came first. If anything was a copy it would be WDW.

 

[Michael623]

Definitely worth it. GCV is the best Disney resort and DL blows MK away. As you can see I've been to WDW many times and I really enjoy my "home" park but there is nothing like the original. If MK and DL were side by side I'd visit MK for an hour to ride TTA and Philharmagic and then spend the rest of the time at DL.

 

[starshine514]

It's funny, when went we to WDW last year, one of the older gentlemen at my church asked me why we went all the way to Florida instead of just going to the one in California!

My answer would be - yes! They are both worth visiting! And, there are plenty of other things to do in Cali if you want to make a longer vacation of it.

 

[KCmike]

Worth it? Absolutely. Disneyland is far and away the best Disney park. This is coming from a WDW vet. My family absolutely loves it. My wife wanted to go back to WDW this summer and we were disappointed after visiting so many times in a row to California/DL. The resort is much smaller but Disneyland and DCA have as many rides and attractions in their two parks as WDW has in their four. The only thing we miss is Epcot but we really felt like it had gone downhill after visiting a couple of weeks ago. We did love our stay at the Grand Floridian though. You will love the Grand Californian. If you have any questions feel free to ask away. So many great things about DL to pass on. We went back in 2007 for a Halloween long weekend just to see the ORIGINAL park. We fell in love so hard that we went back several years in a row. We also combined our stays with visits to the other major places in CA. Yosemite, San Fran, Monterey, and San Diego. All were wonderful. The weather is to die for. The mornings are chilly, afternoons warm up with colorful blue skies, and then the nights get chilly again. It is perfection. Sorry to ramble on I just get excited when another WDW vet finds Walt's home. 4-5 days is ideal. More the better if you can swing off days with days at the beach (30 min drive) or head down to San Diego for your first time visiting (90 min drive).

 

[kkmcan]

Absolutely worth it! And even more so since you are WDW fans. Gives a new excitement to Disney when you can visit parks that are new to you. We found we loved our first visits to Epcot and DHS. It was so much fun exploring a new place.

But I did find myself really missing DL and was completely disappointed in MK.

There are so many nooks and crannies to see at DL. I especially love Snow Whites Wishing Well, the little shops in New Orleans Square, the pathway from Frontierland to Fantasyland, and the Grizzly River Rapids walkway around the back of the ride.

You need a minimum of 4 days, I think being new to the park especially with all the new rides and shows they have now and next year.

 

[Hound 109]

Agree with all of the above posters. & i agree that you should do 4 days minimum but 5 days would be better.

Coming from the Eastern Time Zone works GREAT the first 2-3 days (easy to get up). But it's a bear when you fly home the first couple of days back. (plan on being unproductive or having an off day the day after you return).

Definitely read HGs thread above (that i will link again) & the rest of his tip threads....& also Mary Jo's tip thread. Also plan on Park Hopping EVERY DAY (especially if you are staying at the GCH). Links to review:

Here's the WDW veteran primer.....a must read...probably ought to read it twice !!:

HydroGuy's DLR for the WDW veteran tip thread. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1478699


Also, lots of good info for the WDW vet in Mary Jo's tip thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=802084


Regarding touring DLR....the two most important things to remember is to:

- Get to the parks BEFORE opening &
- Know how to use FP at DLR.

"Why I Park Hop" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961

Have a great time contemplating a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[nunzia]

We regularly have to point out that DL came first. If anything was a copy it would be WDW.

Yep.. and YEP you should visit. I agree that 4 days would be a good timeframe, and then you could use VGC as a base for some day trips if you'd like.

 

[bdmphs]

I live in the NYC area an am currently on my 10 th trip in 8 years to dl. I believe you are not a true Disney person until you experience where it all began. The gch villas are awesome and the area is amazing. Went to the Disney museum in sf yesterday for the first time and that may have completed my Disney education. What an amazing place!!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I live very close to WDW and try to go to DL about every two years. There is definitely a different feel to the parks.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I am also from the East Coast and have been to WDW over 20 times. I'm also DVC. I think it is an amazing experience and have actually found myself liking DL a bit more. You can pretty much cover both parks in three days which includes some time at DTD, which I love at DL. Enjoy it!

 

[TLPL]

YES -Absolutely and positively worth the trip!
DLR has all the new additions happening, but can you remember when was the last time WDW open something brand new? All the parades are like 10 years old or recycled from DLR.
Also, everything are better maintain in DLR, WDW are more into quantity and DLR are more about quality.

 

[disfan07]

Okay...here's my opinion from a former east coaster (now LA resident) and WDW veteran.

We did DL for the first time in 2000 as a part of a California trip. we spent 3 days in Anaheim. At that time it was only DL (no DCA). We only spent 2 of those days at DL.

We did it again in 2004 (I think) and again in 2007, both times as part of a whole california trip (we have family out here).

I have to say, I don't necessarily agree about the "quality" and "quantity" argument. I haven't found a significant difference btw the two (we were just in WDW this past december---trip number 17 i think... and in DL about 3 months ago). I actually find DL sorely lacking in one important aspect to me...dining and allergies. We have been very hit or miss in DL wheras in WDW its been very consistent. But that is obviously JMO.

IMHO, if you are going to come out here to DL, I would try and make plans to see other parts of SoCal as well if you can. I think adding in a few days either in San Diego or in LA would complete the trip...but that is just my opinion from my experience of what we always did.

So in a nutshell....yes it is worth it

 

[DeluxePrincess]

It is worth it! Stay 5 nights. Grand Californian is beautiful! I'm a fellow WDW vet who visited DLR for the first time this summer and I'm hooked.